MEETING
OF THE CITY OF CONNELL, WASHINGTON
CONNELL,
FRANKLIN COUNTY, WASHINGTON
The
regular semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of the City of
PRESENT:
PRESENT: Mayor Gary Walton, Councilmembers Monica
Pruett, Roel Martinez, Ron Boyer, Perry Skoglund and Andrew Sawyer.
STAFF:
STAFF: City
Administrator Art Tackett, Chief of Police
VISITORS:
VISITORS: Alan
Schroeder, Anderson Perry; Kathy Bingham, Franklin County Graphic; Marcellene
Davis, Connell Heritage Foundation; Mary Bauman, Franklin PUD; Ron & Linda
Brandner; Golden Harvest Restaurant; and John Wolf, Manager at Wheatland
Apartments along with approximately 15 concerned residents.
Association
of WA Cities - relating to the support of a resolution regarding Referendum
51.
WA
State Liquor Control Board - Assumption of liquor license from Robertson
Restaurant, Inc. Dba Golden Harvest Restaurant & Lounge to Ronny and
Linda Brandner, Golden Harvest Restaurant LLC.
WA
Association of Sheriff's and Police Chief's - Annual report now on the web.
Dept
of Agriculture - Relating to the water system loan/grant.
Bureau
of Reclamation - Co-hosted a community event for water delivery and enclosed
a commemorative stamp set.
AWC
regional meeting - set for September 26 in Spokane.
Councilmember
Skoglund moved to approve the Consent Calendar as listed:
Minutes
of the August 12, 2002 Regular Meeting,
Councilmember
Pruett seconded motion. Motion
carried unanimously.
Linda Brandner requested permission to fence of the street for their annual dance during Fall Festival. This year they would be using a chain link fence and would have security present as before.
Council consensus was to allow them not to cover up the chain link fence.
When
asked about treating the ponds for larvae Public Works Director Munyan responded
that the City ponds were treated. Councilmember
Boyer noted that LambWeston treated their ponds as well.
Mayor
Walton made the following change to the agenda:
Agenda Item 17 -
Resolution No. 2002-05 was moved after agenda Item 9.
Councilmember Pruett moved to approve the agenda as changed. Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
COMMUNITY CENTER
City Administrator Tackett reported that no conclusions had been determined by the Committee.
John Wolf, manager of Wheatland Apartments, expressed his concern of the alcohol consumption going on outside the building in the parking lot and the need for security to patrol the outside. Other concerns included noise, litter, bottles, and unsupervised children.
Mayor Walton affirmed that the Committee was looking into the issues mentioned and was trying to come up with solutions.
Public Works Director Munyan suggested he look into installing an alarm on the back doors that would sound whenever the doors were opened.
Councilmember Boyer expressed his concern with the allowance of alcohol consumption at the Center.
Public Works Director mentioned that he had not heard back from the contractor in regards to the mini piles and that work would be done on the parking lot once the piles had been placed.
MUSEUM AGREEMENT
City Administrator Tackett reported that there were a few issues that needed to be worked out with the Connell Heritage Foundation before an agreement could be signed, such as electricity, telephone and security.
The City would have a phone installed that had access to local calls only. The Connell Heritage Foundation would use a phone card to make any long distance calls.
City Clerk-Treasurer Eckman brought up the issue of insurance.
Marcellen Davis advised that insurance for the contents of the building was not necessary because the items were irreplaceable and therefore uninsurable. Liability insurance as well as insurance for the building was necessary. Ms. Davis also advised that they were looking into ADA regulations to determine if the building had to be handicap accessible before it could be opened. There were some safety concerns that needed to be addressed such as handrails and lights on the front steps. The Connell Heritage Foundation was also looking at making arrangements with PUD for assistance with the electrical bill. The first annual meeting would be held on September 23 at 7:00 pm.
Mayor Walton read the five year service agreement between Franklin County Historical Society, Connell Heritage Foundation and the City of Connell for the operation of the Connell Heritage Museum.
Councilmember Sawyer moved to accept the service agreement with Franklin County Historical Society and to go into negotiations with the Connell Heritage Foundation. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
RESOLUTION NO 2002-05 - OPPOSING CHANGES TO NW ELECTRICITY SYSTEM
Mary Bauman requested help in supporting opposing a regional transmission organization and imposition of standard market design. If these plans were to be passed they would more than likely increase the electrical rates.
Councilmember Skoglund moved to adopt Resolution No. 2002-05 - opposing proposed changes to the Northwest Electrical System. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.
WASTEWATER
FACILITY
Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry was present to update the Mayor and Council on the progress of the projects.
Schedule A - PACO Pumps had removed the two pumps that were sounding the alarms for review and would be reinstalling them.
Public Works Director Munyan reported that Farmers Electric had been taken out of the loop. PUD had ran a voltage check since there had been an issue of there not being sufficient power getting to the lift station to run things. This would cause the generator to turn on.
Schedule B – Selland had been asked to complete their punch list so that their items would be done once the pumps were reinstalled.
Mr. Schroeder advised Council that Anderson Perry had requested that the extra time they had spent on this project be taken out of Apollo's retainage as well as any of the City's expenses.
USDA - APPLICATION/WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
City Administrator Tackett reported that the City received the USDA loan/grant program in the amount of 4.5 million, 2 million loan and 2.5 million grant. Anderson Perry had already begun to stake out part of the project. The projects would need to be prioritized according to need. The top three projects would include the line under the coulee, the big reservoir, and the little reservoir. Loan funds would need to be expended first with payback starting in either September or October of 2004. The City would need to look at water rate increases and possibly a sewer rate decrease. The lines should last 50 years or more.
TIB- CLARK STREET - PROJECT UPDATE
Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry reported that paving had been completed and the signs had been installed. The street lights still needed to come in.
Mayor Walton advised that the 35 mile per hour sign needed to be moved and a 25 mile per hour sign be put in its place.
STREET CHIP SEALING PROJECT
Alan Schroeder reported that Superior Paving Co. was the low bidder from the two bids received in the amount of $58,540 and were expected to start September 5 and be completed in two to three days.
SEWER
PROJECTS
City
Administrator Tackett reported that the City had $550,000 that needed to be
committed to sewer projects and reviewed six projects that the City was looking
into.
Councilmember
Pruett moved to approve funds be committed to the following projects:
1.
Sewer Lift Station on Eastside of 395
2.
Old Town Lift Station
3.
Sewer Extension between Elm Street and Fir Street
4.
West Clark Street Extension
Councilmember
Martinez seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.
CRCC
- INMATE CREW CONTRACT
Mayor
Walton advised that this contract had remained the same as in the previous
years. The original contract
received was requesting reimbursement for mileage and over time for the
Correction Officer and was sent back for modification.
Councilmember
Pruett moved to approve the CRCC - Inmate Crew Contract.
Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.
Motion carried unanimously.
ORDINANCE
- HYDRANT VALVES
This
item was tabled till the next meeting.
GOLF
COURSE
City
Administrator Tackett reported that the last Golf Course meeting had gone well.
If Council wished to proceed with this project a grading plan would be
the next step. At one time a
proposal for a grading plan for either a 9 hole or 18 hole course had been
presented.
City
Clerk Treasurer Eckman reported that there were $204,000 in the Airport
Improvement Reserve that was available for Council to appropriate for specific
projects.
City
Administrator Tackett suggested that a meeting be held to decide if Council
would proceed with this project after a questionnaire was handed out during Fall
Festival.
This
item would be brought back at the September 23 Council Meeting.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Councilmember
Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $112,653.52.
Councilmember Pruett seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
CLERK TREASURER'S REPORT - Clerk Treasurer Joan Eckman
1. The auditors had started the audit and would be here for about a month, the entrance conference would be on August 27.
POLICE
REPORT - Chief of Police
1. Sergeant Williams would be returning to work the following week.
2. Attended the Firearms Instructor training class and received certification as a Firearms Instructor.
FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT -
1. Had a fire on the highway.
2. Had a fire safety check at the Community Center and were addressing some inefficiencies.
3. Had a concern with a business owner with hazardous debris.
PUBLIC
WORKS DEPARTMENT - Public Works Director Patrick Munyan
1.
Working on the Pharmacy,
located the problem and would be reinstalling the bathroom.
2.
Would be crack sealing on
Columbia to prepare for the chip seal.
3.
CRCC crew was cleaning up
weeds for Fall Festival.
4.
Will be placing street
reflective tabs on the street.
CITY
ADMINISTRATOR REPORT - City Administrator Art Tackett
1.
Would not be proceeding
with the Street grant project, could not get the information pulled together by
the deadline date.
2.
Would be meeting with DOC
and the Pharmacy in regards to prescriptions.
3.
The Connell pamphlet was
completed. Provided pamphlets to
Council.
4.
The pool was closed for
the summer, the lifeguards and Public Works did an excellent job.
MAYOR'S REPORT - Mayor Gary Walton
1.
Attended the 10th
year anniversary at CRCC and received a plaque.
2.
Visited with several
officials from Olympia in regards to getting volunteer inmate crews to clean up
the weeds before Fall Festival.
3.
Welch's Memorial Speedway
was closed, spoke to Dept. of Correction to use the speedway till the next phase
of the prison expansion if Mr. Welch agreed to run it.
Mayor
Walton thanked Lon Welch and his family for their participation in helping to
promote the City and bringing in tourism.
There being no further business to be heard before the City Council of the City of Connell, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 9:55 p.m.